Over the weekend of September 19–22, The Makery on Sewall Avenue was alive with community spirit, centered on the theme of immigration. “Interwoven: Craft, Story, Immigration” was a weekend-long celebration of the diverse groups that make up the nation and our own Brookline neighborhood.
The weekend included a three-day exhibition of 80 blankets made by the Brookline chapter of Welcome Blanket, an organization that makes blankets for new immigrants and delivers them with a note welcoming them to the U.S. and describing the maker’s ties to immigration. Julio Cortes del Olmo, an immigration lawyer based in Coolidge Corner, spoke about the legal challenges for immigrants and refugees. Debbie Block, another Coolidge Corner resident, and a historian brought in a historical perspective.
The weekend also included presentations and performances by Brookline Interactive Group’s Arrival VR, International Institute of New England’s “Suitcase Stories” series, The Sasha Band, and Erhuist Tao He along with sixth-graders from the Coolidge Corner School.
“Immigration is a huge topic, and it can be really hard to understand exactly what’s going on,” says Hadassah Margolis, COO for Welcome Blanket. “It can also feel like a very abstract topic and maybe an academic topic. By providing this creative opportunity and this wonderful space for people to come and talk about it, it really makes the political personal.”
The events not only brought immigration down to a personal level, but it also illustrated for the Brookline public that they don’t have to be pro bono lawyers or big-time nonprofit funders to make a difference. A gesture as simple as a handmade blanket or a handwritten welcome note can make a significant impact on a newcomer to Brookline.
“Jana [Jayna Zweiman, founder of Welcome Blanket] often says that she hopes Welcome Blanket can become an American tradition and that everyone new to this country can receive a welcome blanket and note,” says Margolis. Brookliners can contribute a blanket to Welcome Blanket at any time during the year; the need is always there. Blankets can be knitted, crocheted, sewn, quilted, or created in any style that works for the maker.
The blankets have also had the unexpected impact of reconnecting neighborhood residents with their own immigration stories. For participants who have been in Brookline for several generations now, recounting their stories was a nice reminder that their ancestors too experienced the thrill and fear of entering the country for the first time.
“Interwoven” may have ended, but Brookliners can contribute to new immigrant programs year-round. “Brookline is diverse,” says Margolis. “There are many ways where community members can be a part of social causes, and they can do it together with their neighbors.”
